﻿Welcome﻿

Hi we are Nicola and Ian Richardson and Alexander's Charity Ball all started in 2010

Our first annual Charity Ball was held in February 2011 at Tankersley Manor Hotel Near Barnsley in memory of our son Alexander who died suddenly and unexpectedly in February 2007

Alexander was a happy, healthy and very cheeky 17 month old so his death caused my family untold heartache as well as complete confusion...How does a healthy baby go to bed full of beans and not wake up the next morning?

I would like an answer to this question and whilst there are none forthcoming at the moment, with continued research I hope that someone, someday will be able to help me. Without money however this vital research is not able to commence so in the May following Alexander's passing we joined a local walk in memory of our son and other babies lost to SIDS to raise money for The Lullaby Trust and from there every May I have organised our own 'Mile in Memory' to coincide with lots of National miles as part of the charity's Save a Baby Month.

The walks are fabulous and we always have a great turnout but, I felt that there were lots of walks, runs, cycle rides and other such fabulous events being endured across the country for many wonderful charities and we are all being asked to dig deep and sponsor as much as we can. I figured that eventually pockets might run dry, so I wanted to do something a little different.

I could never have envisioned 8 years ago what this night would become to me and so many people, it's part of their social calendar and seems set to grow and grow. In this ever growing world of charities it's important that we keep plugging away at fundraising and it's no easy task but it's more than worth it when we tot up the amount we've raised and we find out exactly how that will go to help families within Yorkshire.

2015 was an absolutely mind blowing night for us with nearly 500 people attending and we raised a whopping £41,000 we could never have dreamed that our £100k total was in reach but in one night we were nearly half way there . Alexander's Charity Ball alone has been able to contribute over £100,000 to The Lullaby Trust in 5 years.

In September 2015 Alexander would be turning 10 and I always said that I would do something extra special for this year. As it happens a decision has been made for us, we were informed that a leading paediatric professor at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Neil Sebire had research waiting to be undertaken into the sudden deaths of over 1's. The research will cost £100,000 and I want to do my utmost to raise the money to allow this research to get going, this is what I've been working towards in the 8 years since Alexander died, it's tangible and someone is willing to help. How can I sit back and not do my bit?

We are stunned at what we've been able to achieve in the 9 years since we lost Alexander and it's a fitting legacy for the Son who will never get the chance to grow up and choose his own path in life.

Please read on through the site and contact us if you feel you are able to help us in anyway, every single bit,whether you think it's big or small is a massive help to us to create a future for our chosen charity, The Lullaby Trust.